URC chiefs happy to fly high with new partner, Qatar

The United Rugby Championship has defended its decision to sign a sponsorship deal with Qatar Airways

Wed, 07 Sep, 2022 - 07:20

Simon Lewis, London

The United Rugby Championship has defended its decision to sign a sponsorship deal with Qatar Airways, an airline part-owned by a nation-state with much-criticised record on human rights. Indeed, URC chief executive Martin Anayi yesterday insisted rugby can be a force for positive change in the country.

The URC has broken new ground these past few days in announcing valuable sponsorship deals with companies not previously involved with rugby. Last Friday the five-nation, 16-team cross-hemisphere league welcomed Indian agricultural tyre company BKT as its first Northern Hemisphere title sponsor to complement Vodacom’s deal for South Africa.